Interview with: Nate Ruess of FUN.

If you’ve paid attention to the site in the past few weeks, then you have got to know that on October 7th Janelle Monae and fun. will be stopping in Macon as part of the Campus Consciousness Tour that’s been hitting colleges all around the United States. If you aren’t familiar with Janelle then you should quickly educate yourself. fun. is the newly (as of 2008) formed band of Nate Ruess (The Format), Andrew Dost (Anathallo) and Jack Antonoff (Steel Train). The guys quickly gained steam through their acclaimed debut Aim and Ignite, as well as tours with Jacks Mannequin, Paramore, Vedera, Manchester Orchestra, and many more. I had the pleasure of speaking with Ruess recently and he filled me in on recent and future happenings. Enjoy!

– Photo: Lindsey Byrnes

TBI :1. Fun has been working on a follow up full length that’s due out early next year on Fueled by Ramen correct? What prompted the label change and what is the band looking forward to with joining their family?

NR : Pretty quickly after the release of Aim and Ignite we felt like we were ready to take a step onto a larger label, and FBR has expressed interest in signing any project I’ve been in for the last 10 years and I’ve been fortunate to watch them grow, so when they approached us this time, we really saw it as the perfect opportunity for both of us. So far it’s been just that.

2. The tour the band will be taking part in is called the Campus Consciousness Tour. Can you tell us a bit about the primary focus of the tour and your input on why waste awareness is so important ?

I haven’t had a chance to really check out the pamphlets, but from what I understand thus far, the tour focuses on a few different environmental issues, it’s pretty awesome because they’ve got us recycling on our bus, plus they hooked us up with Brita water bottles that have a built in filter, and we use those instead of wasting a ton of half empty bottles. I particularly love it because I’m known to drink more water, and waste more water than anyone. Plus I always drink tap water, so now I have a filter.

3. You all have released a single from your upcoming album called “We Are Young” which features Janelle Monae, who you will be on tour with for this run. What was it like working with her?

Unfortunately we didn’t meet Janelle until the first day of tour (and she’s awesome!). But fortunately technology allowed her to hear the song, decide she wanted to be a part of it, and record it in some foreign country (Germany?) while we were in LA making the album. We are all so flattered that someone as incredible as she is, liked the song enough to sing on it.

4. If I’m correct, this will be your second time to Macon but the first time as fun. The Format played here a few years ago and from what I know it was a great show. What is the band most excited about with being a part of a more intimate college tour?

I love college tours like this, the shows are always a great time. This is my second campus consciousness tour, and the first one was my favorite tour I’ve ever done. It’s just very low key, low pressure, and we get to spend the day using college athletic facilities. It doesn’t get any better for a touring musician who wishes they had gone to college.